Page 104 of The Unseen Hour

“Not at you, although I’m more than willing to release some anger if anyone questions your decision. Now that everything is out in the open, let me ask again. Celia Hipnosi, will you give me permission to marry you? And to adventure together, no matter where life takes us?”

“Yes!” I threw myself into his arms again, grinning. “Now, do you think we have a little more time before we have to leave?”

“For?”

I trailed a hand down his neck, then pulled him in for a kiss by his shirt collar.

He grinned when he pulled back.

“Starlight, I can always make time for that.”

CHAPTER 43

Orion and I returned to the cottage, which felt much smaller than it had previously.

Or perhaps it was that Orion took up more space as he turned to shut the door behind me.

“Did you mean what you said in the cavern? About being ready.”

“Yes,” I answered without hesitation.

There was a lot of uncertainty in our future, and our situation in the Ether, but that was one thing I wasn’t going to change my mind about.

I wanted Orion.

“I don’t want you to think that because you said yes to me, that you’re obligated to me in any way.”

Many men in Emrys would have felt differently. Orion was exceptional, and I wanted to make sure he knew it.

“If anything, I think you’ll find my desire for you will only grow.”

“Is that so?”

He prowled forward, just as predatory in his movements as some of the Ether’s animals. Soon, my back was pressed up against the cottage wall. His arms rested to the sides of my head, and he leaned closer. I was boxed in, but instead of feeling caged, all I wanted to do was get closer.

“Ry.”

One of his hands dropped to the back of my neck, and he eliminated the remaining distance between us. The kiss was bruising and insistent. His hand trailed down my side.

“I need to see you, Starlight,” Orion insisted. “No layers of fabric between us, and no secrets either.”

He’d seen me before, but this was different. He’d helped me treat wounds, or felt me underneath layers of clothing. Now we were in front of the fire, and I could see and feel everything. Nothing to focus on but each other.

I ducked out from underneath Orion’s arm, giving myself more space.

I tugged at my borrowed shirt. When he twisted around and saw what I was doing, the flecks in his eyes practically glowed.

“May I help?”

I nodded, barely daring to move my chin.

As his hands pulled the shirt he began kissing my neck, sending a pleasant shiver trailing down my spine.

“Ry, I want to feel you.”

I’d barely gotten the words out of mouth when Orion groaned into my neck, pressing the length of his body against me. He ground his hips, and I let out a mewling sound that wasn’t in any way controlled, and certainly not dignified.

Heat pooled between my legs, and an aching need had me reaching to pull him in closer. He trailed bites and kisses down my neck. He only paused long enough to finish pulling the shirt over my head.